James

Definitely remind me of when we had good individuals on high wages but no team spirit and eventually went down. This is probably the Allardyce to Keegan stage, only Dalglish is more short term. I think it will have a similar effect, but they must clear the deadwood and rebuild this summer if they want a good future. That means selling Gerrard and Torres.

No, I am Ziani and so is my wife.

It'd be a dynamic formation. But tactics and discipline it should work no? Someone posted a solid formation with Tiote, Nolan, Barton, Larson, and HBA playing together which would be a great one. Barton Tiote Nolan Larsson Ben Arfa Carroll It might work. Simply Larsson, Barton, Simpson and Tiote can pass the ball around until one can whip it in from the right with Carroll and Nolan getting in the area, and Ben Arfa lurking outside the area to deal with any clearances. If necessary we can switch the ball to the left and let Hatem and Jose do the damage. I have this sneaking suspicion that Nolan doesn't perform playing off a lone striker as well as he does playing behind two. Do the stats and more importantly the results back this up? Barton Nolan and Tiote would continue to play the same role the currently do within the side. So Nolan would not be playing off Carroll. The two new widemen would be playing off Carroll.

I said this in the Larsson thread, but Barton is pretty much a right sided central midfielder at the moment anyway when he plays. Buying a right winger then playing five in midfield would add to our potency on the right, not replace it.

It'd be a dynamic formation. But tactics and discipline it should work no? Someone posted a solid formation with Tiote, Nolan, Barton, Larson, and HBA playing together which would be a great one. Barton Tiote Nolan Larsson Ben Arfa Carroll It might work. Simply Larsson, Barton, Simpson and Tiote can pass the ball around until one can whip it in from the right with Carroll and Nolan getting in the area, and Ben Arfa lurking outside the area to deal with any clearances. If necessary we can switch the ball to the left and let Hatem and Jose do the damage.

If Barton was the right side of a central midfield three, could he continue his current role, with Larsson still playing wide right?

I think his rightfootedness and technique mean that his range of passing is much more devastating on the right wing.

I forgot about Ben Arfa. Not sure whether he'd be best on the left or next to Carroll but that also means that either Jonas or Shola would be adequate back up.

At the moment our first eleven is good enough to keep us top 8. The problem is that our offence relies on Barton and Carroll and a bit of Nolan. While we might cope for one or two games at the moment I can't see the squad supplying adequate cover, and for the squad to sustain this form in future seasons, it needs competition too. Larsson is one player who gives an instant improvement. If you look at it like the below you can see a squad that has about 5 adequate deputies (in italics) and 6 inadequate: Harper Krul Simpson Williamson Coloccini Enrique Raylor Saylor Campbell Perch Barton Tiote Nolan Jonas Larsson Smith Gosling Routledge Ameobi Carroll Lovenkrands Best[/cente] If we have an injury, or manage to accidentally qualify for Europe (a distinct possibility), we need players like Larsson.

Once safe, try and finish above Sunderland. Can we manage it?

Bad day for a certain group of under pressure managers. Will one or any go soon? Who is next?

Did he cause the SMF on here?

They are 13th

When was the last time a NUFC player was booked for dissent?

Yes it is ridiculous isn't it! Can clubs still get into Europe for Fair Play if they win the draw?

5th, 6th, 7th, 3rd

Over the season referees have been giving us scores in their match reports in the following areas: Positive Play Respect Towards Opponents Respect Towards Referees Behaviour of Officials Of the PL clubs, we have ranked 18th, 19th, 20th and 3rd respectively. The outcome of this is that we are bottom of the Fair Play League. However, I don't think we've been that bad and the referees clearly have some sort of agenda against us. Or are we bad?

Is Kuntz still around? He would be an offensive player.

We'll miss him when he finally goes just like Man City miss Shaun Goater despite all their cash/star players.

Wonder what he thought of Shola.

In terms of most improved player, it should go: 1. Carroll 2. Barton 3. Simpson

I don't think there was any intention. He had the ball, he lost control of it for a split second so he instinctively went to get it back. It is a part of his game that shouldn't be curbed as it is the same drive that is making him win matches for us at the moment.

So, which teams haven't? Chelsea, Man Utd, Arsenal, Blackpool, Man City? Chelsea and Man City are the only two I 95% couldn't see wanting him to be honest.

Add Ben Arfa and Simpson, who I think will become a very good right back. We're getting close to having a first team that will compete at the top level and will challenge to qualify for Europe in a year or two. Have to agree with Simpson. Although this has a lot to do with the lack of alternatives, I really can see him in an England shirt before long, if only for a friendly Don't like to go off topic in Tiote's thread but this is the most disgusting post I have read in a long time. Simpson should be nowhere near a Premier League side let alone getting in any England squad, no matter how few alternatives there are . He's played well enough to merit a place in the team this season. Or have you judged him from last season where he spent several months needing an operation, but played through the pain for the cause?

I take it as a compliment that the British media are taking any naughty behaviour from him to make a point. he's one of them nasty foreigners taking the place of young English talent, and unlike Jordi Gomez he is going to be in this division for years to come and they know it.